Pierre Gasly in line for Formula E debut in New York

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Red Bull junior Pierre Gasly is at the top of Renault e.dams' list to race in New York next month if regular driver Sebastian Buemi remains unavailable due to a Toyota LMP1 commitment at the Nurburgring.

Gasly is racing in Japan's Super Formula series this year, but is believed to have been given a green light by sponsor Red Bull to make his Formula E debut at the Brooklyn venue.

The 21-year-old is no stranger to the DAMS outfit for which he raced in GP2 and which currently leads the FE teams championship.

DAMS boss Jean-Paul Driot is seeking a quality replacement for Buemi to race alongside Nicolas Prost, although it is believed that discussions are still underway with Toyota for the Swiss drivers' eventual exceptional release for the New York race.

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That prospect appears unlikely however after the manufacturer's defeat at Le Mans last weekend and the subsequent loss of championship points.

"I know who we will put in the car if we have to make a change," said Driot.

"We are fighting to protect Seb’s [points] lead and also to extend our team’s championship gap.

"There is no one around who has good experience in Formula E for us, so the driver we have will not have race experience."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.